Charlie Vasaturo's goal 45 seconds into the game was the quick start Union was looking for and propelled the Dutchmen to a big 5-1 win over the Saints on Friday night at Messa Rink. The victory ensured Union at least home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

"I'm not going to say that it's the best we're going to get, because hopefully there is a lot more in the tank, and I believe there is," Bennett said. "It was a nice effort tonight. It was a great team effort, and a lot of guys showed a lot of heart tonight."

Union (16-12-5, 9-8-4) now is tied for fourth place in the conference standings with St. Lawrence (16-13-4, 9-8-4) and Dartmouth.

The top four teams in the ECAC will earn a first-round playoff bye next week.

The Dutchmen will try to knock off Clarkson on Saturday and hope for some help, as third-place Yale (hosting Cornell) and Dartmouth (hosting Quinnipiac) can clinch first-round byes with wins.

Vasaturo scored on the game's second shift when his shot from the left point through a Daniel Carr screen was deflected by a Saint defender past goaltender Matt Weninger.

"It was huge, we had a great start," captain Mat Bodie said. "Right off that offensive draw, Chuckie got a great shot through."

Dutchmen winger Matt Hatch pushed the lead to 2-0 with a blast over Weninger's shoulder at 4:05 of the first for his eighth goal of the season.

"I had just gotten on the ice for a line change," Hatch said. "(Matt Wilkins) sifted me a nice pass across ice, I caught it and just ripped it."

Union took a 3-0 lead in the second when Kyle Bodie slammed home a carom off the glass behind Weninger at 3:28.

Troy Grosenick had 17 saves in the win but left the game with an apparent injury after allowing Chris Martin's goal at 9:10 of the third that cut the Union lead to 3-1.

When asked about Grosenick's injury and an injury that knocked Vasaturo out of the game, Bennett issued a "no comment."

With both teams in the middle of a line change, Shayne Gostisbehere spotted Mat Bodie by himself at the Saint blue line and sent the captain in alone for a slap shot that eluded Weninger at 13:01.

The assist was Gostisbehere's third of the game.

"I think it was a big goal. That is usually when you get a late push from a team, when they are down by two," Mat Bodie said. "Shayne made a great play, and I saw that (Weninger) was leaving the side open."